Collaborative automation cobot could stem job losses in Malaysia

Adoption of automation and innovative solutions must be accelerated by Industry leaders in Malaysia in order to adapt to the volatile conditions that local manufacturers currently operate in.

As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global economies, the manufacturing sector in Malaysia has been significantly affected due to the closure of factories and COVID-19 related restrictions, placing jobs at risk.

This is where collaborative robotic automation is helping to slowly reverse the decline in manufacturing jobs as manufacturers invest in innovative solutions that increase the output of every unit of labour, according to Universal Robots (UR), the Denmark-based collaborative robots (cobots) technology leader.

In June 2021, Malaysia’s unemployment rate climbed to 4.8% (May 2021: 4.5%) while the number of unemployed persons escalated to 768,700 persons. Malaysia’s manufacturing sector’s sales stood at RM124.4 bil and expanded by 33.9% in 2Q 2021.

According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), Asia remains the strongest market for industrial robots. The share of newly installed robots in Asia was about two thirds of global supply in 2019.

To drive business growth and stay relevant in current norms, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has recently urged local business owners to move up the value chain by adapting digitalisation and embracing automation technologies.

With progressive support from the Government, Malaysia has consistently taken steps to implement collaborative automation in the manufacturing industry.

“The journey towards automation is far from over. We have entered a phase where automation is protecting skilled workers from outsourcing by increasing the value of their time and effort,” commented Universal Robots’ regional director (Asia-Pacific) James McKew.

“Now, we focus on both controlled and uncontrolled environments where automation equipment is being leveraged to improve safety and productivity. Automation is helping manufacturers evolve, thanks to innovative solutions such as cobots that are safe and flexible enough to complete complex tasks alongside humans.”

More than 1.1 million deaths occur every year due to workplace accidents or diseases in Asia reported by International Labour Organisation (ILO),. In 2020, 10,303 occupational accident cases in the manufacturing sector happend Malaysia, highlighting that manufacturing is the most hazardous industry compared to other industries.

Today, it is increasingly possible for high-risk activities to be offloaded to robots. Robots allow firms to move workers away from high-risk tasks and on to more value-added ones.

“These state-of-the-art machines are designed to work alongside humans, to reduce workplace injuries and improve productivity,” reckoned McKew.

McKew stressed that the machines are designed to work along with humans, help reduce injuries and increase their increase productivity.

“Cobots allow manufacturers in Malaysia to make the best use of human workers and robots. The former provides creative problem-solving skills, mental flexibility, and real-world knowledge, while robots provide repeatability, accuracy, and 24/7 availability.”